Cleethorpes Town 1-0 Stamford AFC

The Owls managed to secure a 1-0 victory over Stamford on Wednesday night, despite the visitors making it very difficult.

Stamford made a bright start to the game and tested Higton with a shot from distance in the opening 10 minutes, however the shot stopper managed to turn the ball out for a corner kick.

In the 16th minute, Stamford went close again, after a great ball into the box, Smith’s header was saved terrifically by Higton as he tipped the ball onto the crossbar to keep the score level.

Stamford continued to have the best of the game and almost took the lead in the 27th minute, after a corner caused havoc in the Cleethorpes box, defender Peter Winn eventually managed to clear the ball off the line to deny Stamford.

Cleethorpes did come forward in the 37th minute, as Peter Winn made a surging run down the left hand side from the halfway line, before his effort went wide of the goal.

Stamford had another good opportunity in the 39th minute, as Adams made a good run in behind the Cleethorpes defence, however his effort went well wide of the goal.

Just before half time, Stamford were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area after Winn used his hand to block an effort. The resulting free kick was straight at Higton, meaning that the teams went into halftime with the scores level.

Stamford almost took the lead immediately after the second half started, after a good pull back to the edge of the box, the effort beat Higton, although defender Peter Winn was there to clear off the line to stop a certain goal.

In the 53rd minute, Stamford went close again after some great work down the right hand side, the ball was crossed into the box to Smith, who headed the ball across goal however the Clee defence managed to scramble the ball away.

The Owls took the lead in the 57th minute of the game, as Peter Winn found Cooper on the left hand side, who whipped in a fantastic cross to Liam Davis and he headed in off the underside of the bar to give Cleethorpes the lead.

The goal from Davis seemed to be a turning point for the Owls’ performance, as after this goal they seemed to regain possession a lot better and also looked a lot stronger defensively than earlier in the game.

The rest of the match seemed to have very few chances, except from the final minutes of the game. Firstly, the Owls could have made it 2-0 with Peter Winn making a fantastic run down the left hand side, before finding Davis with a fantastic cross into the box but Davis was unable to get his second of the game and volleyed over the bar.

In the final minute of the game, Stamford should have made it 1-1. A long throw into the danger area found its way to Duffy free in the box, however fortunately for the Owls he fired over from 6 yards out.

It was a big 3 points for the Owls and despite not being at their best, Marcus Newell will be delighted as the players worked hard to grind out the victory to make it 7 wins out of 7 in the league this season.